First Impressions: Mongoose Canaan Comp

Sometimes in the life of a test bike, things start out slowly, and the new wheels get eased into their new role. But some bikes get “tested” to their limits right off the bat. This latest specimen, a Mongoose Canaan Comp, has already been put through some difficult tribulations but has come out just fine.

Its first journey was as a pack mule for a three-day bikepacking excursion in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. The poor thing carried two Freeload racks and an Extrawheel trailer loaded with gear and food. (You can read about the trip in the next issue of Dirt Rag, coming out July 1.) We traveled the entire spectrum of surfaces, from fresh, smooth pavement to fairly rough singletrack, and I used the entire spectrum of 27 gears, sometimes within a mile, going over the undulations of the land. It was a great time, and the Mongoose came through with only a loosening of one pivot bolt, which is understandable. It also earned me the nickname “Goose” (or is it called a trail name?) for the trip. Uh, OK.

Despite being somewhat reluctant to go back down to 26″ in wheel size for XC use, I made friends with the bike. With all the un-sprung weight it was tough to get a read on the nature of the suspension, but I was darn glad to have any travel in the rockier bits.

Then there was some of the usual home turf riding, no big deal at all. Today the bike has tasted the sweet, flowing singletrack at the Allegrippis trail system, where we’re visiting for the first annual (or is it the third?) Dirt Rag Dirt Fest. We got in a good ride today before most of the Fest-ers began to arrive. It’s now 11:30 at night, and the Fest-ers are still arriving – looks like we’ll host over 800 people in all. We’re having a blast! Aside from the bands, beer, and friends, the trails are totally grin-inducing, especially on a 26er – the whoops and de-dos don’t get too smoothed out. How ’bout that.

Some people have asked me if this is the same Mongoose that’s now found in department stores – the answer is definitely “no.” Although you can find some BCOs that might share a brand name, the Canaan Comp (and the rest of the Canaan line) belong strictly in the realm of true mountain bicycles, found at your friendly local bicycle dealer.